Portable plating kit

ABSTRACT

A portable electroplating kit contained in a carrying case and providing the necessary equipment for a complete plating laboratory and prototype plating machine including a rectifier, a pump, a magnetic stirrer, a source for heat, a storage compartment for accessory equipment and a built-in work surface area. The electronic equipment is housed in an enclosed control panel with appropriate control devices available at the face of the control panel.

Aug. 14, 3973 H. L. SLATIN ETAL 3,752,752

PORTABLE PLATING KIT Filed May 22, 1972 FIGI r I 120 I02 106 FIG. 4

SWITCH FUSE 231x21 I. 08 (H2 118 1 SPEED SWITCH STEP-DWNI FULL CONTROLTRANS- WAVE OUTLET I "O I "6 FORMER RECTIFIER vAcuuT/T MAGNETIC PRESSURE13o F l Pu-4P f 28 132 (126 1 DC AN\I/ME T ER F T OUTPUT MEOTLER L ERI42 I 150 162 166 C VOLTAGE 148 17o CONTROL IWVAC I44 0.0. OUTPUT UnitedStates Patent 7 3,752,752 PORTABLE PLATING KIT Harvey L. Slatin, NewYork, and Stanley Hirsch, New

Rochelle, N.Y., assignors to Harstan Chemical Corporation, Brooklyn,N.Y. Filed May 22, 1972, Ser. No. 255,215

Int. Cl. B01k 3/00; 323p 1/02 U.S. Cl. 204-194 '10 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A portable electroplating kit contained in a carryingcase and providing the necessary equipment for a complete platinglaboratory and prototype plating machine includinga rectifier, a pump, amagnetic stirrer, a source for heat, a storage compartment for accessoryequipment and a built-in work surface area. The electronic equipment ishoused in an enclosed control panel with appropriate control devicesavailable at the face, of the control panel.

The aforementioned abstract is neither intended to define theinvention'of the application which, of course, is measured by theclaims, nor is it is intended to be limted as to the scope of theinvention in any way.

This invention relates to electroplating and, more particularly, to akit comprising the essential elements of a plating laboratory.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electroplating is commonly used to coatmetals, or suitably prepared non-metals such as ABS plastics, to improveappearance, corrosion resistance, hardness, bearing qualities orincrease in dimensions. In this process, the object to be coated is'made the cathode and the plating metal is the anode. These electrodesare connected to a source of DC current and placed into a plating bathwhich contains a compound of the metal to be deposited. When immersedinto the bath, referred to as a Hull cell, the metal ions migrateto thecathode surface and are there transformed to the metallic state andattached to that sur face. The anode metal is dissolved forming newmetal ions. The combination of these two steps results in the transferof the plating metal from the bulk form of the anode to the form of acoating on the object to be coated.

The plating bath must contaain a source of the metallic ions which areto be deposited. Some plating solutions employ only simple salts of themetal, others use compounds in which the metal ions are present ascomplex ions. Other chemicals are frequently added to the bath toimprove conductivity of the. bath, influence smoothness, brightness,grain size, porosity, hardness and other properties of the depositedmetal. In the plating process it is frequently necessary to apply heatduring the operation. With other types of metals, agitation of theplating bath is impor tant in obtaining proper deposition. Furthermore,some plating processes will yield superior results under airpressurebubbling in the solution.

Because of the different requirements, the testing and control ofcommercial plating solutions was heretofore carried out at a largelaboratory facility. Numerous complex tests were made to analyze andevaluate plating solutions to determine its metallic composition.However, such analysis is costly and time consuming. A generalevaluation of the plating solution could be made by using it withdifferent types of anodes in anactual electroplating process. However,it is generally impossible to use large scale commercial electroplatinginstallations for testing purposes, and furthermore, such largeinstallations do not have suitable laboratory equipment or analysis.

In addition to solution analysis, it is frequently necessary to test thebasic metal for prototype. plating. Here again it is too costly anddifficult to use a large scale commercial plating installation for suchprototypes and, therefore, laboratory testing is generally used.

-It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a portableplating laboratory.

Another object of this invention is to provide a kit containing thenecessary laboratory equipment for plating solution evaluation.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a portableelectroplating apparatus capable of prototype plating of objects.

Yet another object of this inventionis to provide a plating kitincluding, in a portable container, the required variable DC current, asource of heat, a variable speed agitator and a vacuum pressure source.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a portableinstrument, including a Hull cell, capable of test ing and controllingcommercial plating solutions.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a portableelectroplating apparatus, including a magnetic stirrer as a variablespeed agitator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a complete platinglaboratory installed in an attach case and weighing less thantwenty-five pounds.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a portable platinglaboratory including a solid state rectifier for providing the requiredDC current.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become moreapparent from the following description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the invention comprises akit including an attach case housing all the required apparatus neededfor a plating laboratory. The upper compartment includes a source offiltered direct current, a timer, a source for a vacuum, a source ofheat and an air pressure source. The lower compartment is used as a worktable and includes a magnetic member used as a variable speed agitator.The lower compartment is also used as a storage area for the electrodes,the Hull cell filtering apparatus and other laboratory equipment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the various figures of the drawing, likereferenc characters designate like parts.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of .the complete kit of thisinvention including accessory equipment;

FIG. 2 is a top view partially cutaway of the kit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the kit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electrical equipment included withinthe kit of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of part of the block diagram of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3,wherein like reference numbers refer to like parts, there is shown theportable plating laboratory 10 including a carrying case of the attachtype 12, having an upper portion 14 and a lower portion 16. The twoportions are hinged together at 18 and snap into place in an uprightposition. The case is kept in a closed position when not in use by meansof latches 20, 22, hooking onto the protrusions 28, 30.-Handle 24 isused to carry the case and tab- 26 is used as a lever to open the casewhen in use. The lower portion 16 includes a hinged cover 32 which, inits lowered position, rests firmly on a molding 34 and serves as a tabletop.

In. its.openposition, it reveals a storage compartment 36 and anelectromagnet 38, to be hereinafter discussed. The upper portion 14includes a control panel 40 enclosing the electronic circuitry andpartly filling the upper portion, the remainder of which is used forstorage 44. A clamp 46 is placed within the storage compartment 44 andsecured to the carrying case. The clamp 46 is adapted to securely retaina thermometer 48.

v,The power .cord 50. is held in the upper storage compartment 44and-when not in use is secured by retaining strap 52. When released, thepower cord 50 may be plugged into a.60 Hz., 110-l20 v., AC receptacle. Amain switch 54 located on the controlv panel 40 is then turned on. Theswitch may include a light thereby indicating that the'main'power is on.I

.The upper portion 16 of the carrying case 12 includes a rectifiercircuit contained behind the control panel 40 which converts the ACpower to a DC value. The DC output is controlled by a control knob 56 onthe control panel.40 which can be rotated until the proper current isobtained-by reading the ampere. setting on the ammeter 58. alsocontained.-.on the control panel 40. Typically, the DC current iscontrollable from -5 amperes at up to volts. The DC output is availableat an anode outlet 62 and a cathode outlet '64 at the center of thecontrol panel 40. The outlets are color coded for ease of operation, theanode being red and the cathode black. A set of color coded leads 66,normally stored in the lower storage compartment 36, is provided forfitting into their respective electrode outlets.

A timer is included under the control panel 40 which is set by controlknob 68. When the preset time has elapsed, a bell will ring indicatingcompletion of the time cycle. A pressure pump is also included under thecontrol panel which is capable of providing both air under pressure aswell as a vacuum. The amount of pressure or vacuum is controlled bymeans of the ON OFF switch 70 on the control panel 40. Air underpressure is available at the outlet 72 while a vacuum is available atoutlet 74. The pressure or vacuum is used by insertion of a rubber hose80 normally stored in the lower compartment 36. If filtering of asolution is required, a Buchner filter assembly 82 can be placed on topof an Ehrlenmeyer flask 84. A vacuum hose 80 is fitted between thefiltering funnel outlet 86 and the vacuum outlet 74.

An AC outlet 88 is located on the control panel 40 for insertion of aheater coil 90 used for heating the solution to a desired temperaturewhich is monitored by thermometer 48.

An electromagnet 38 contained within the lower compartment 36*isenergized from the AC power source by means'of the power cord extension92 passing from the upper portion 14 to the-lower portion 16. The amountof energy to the electromagnet 38 is controlled by the control knob 94on the panel 40. The electromagnet is used to provide whatever agitationis needed in the Hull cell. The cell with the solution is placed on thetable top 32 of the lower compartment 16 over the magnet 38. A small barmagnet 96 is placed into the cell and the control knob 94 is rotateduntil the bar magnet begins to spin. The rate of agitation may beadjusted by positioning the control knob 94.

A main power. fuse 98 and a DC line fuse 100 are located at the leftside of the controlpanel 40. In addition to the above mentionedequipment which is needed for various plating operations, additionalaccessories may also be includedand stored in the upper'or lower compart'ments 44 and 36, respectively. Some of these are shown in FIG. 1including a' flask, pipettes, tweezers, filter paper, pH paper,droppenpipette filler, stirrer, graduate and sparg'er. Other equipmentwhich may be found useful for plating purposes could also be included.Beaker 85 and graduate 87 arerepresentative.

In operation, the case is' opened, the equipment removed from thestorage compartments and placed on were; i

- and 'is applied until the proper temperature is reached.

-the'lower table top. The powercord is plugged into a suitable ACreceptacle and the main switch is turned on. The DC control knob 68 isadjusted for proper current and voltage as read on the meters and thecolor coded leads connected to the anode and cathode outlets.

.The Hull cell is fitted with a proper anode and the anode clipped intoposition. The anodes included with the kit are from the group consistingof cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, tin, tin-lead, and zinc, althoughadditional anodes could be used. The cell is filled with the solutionto'be tested. An object to be coated is cleaned in'an appropriatemanner, the cathode clip is attached and the cathode placed into theHull cell; The timer is set with the timer knob 68. Should agitation beneeded, the Hull cell is placed over the electro'magnet and knob 94 usedto control the rate of rotation as heretofore described. If heat isrequired, the heater is plugged into receptacle 88 Pressure or vacuum isapplied from the outlets 72, 74 as needed. After conclusion of all testsand evaluations, all

leads and accessories are cleared from the table top and placed eitherin the compartment under the hinged table top or in the upper portion44. The line cord is replaced in its niche and tied by the retainingstray and the attach case is closed.

Referring now to FIG. 4, thereis shown a block diagram of the electroniccircuitry includedin the kit of this invention. The linecord 102 isinserted into an AC receptacle. In series with the cord is the mainpower switch 104 and the main power fuse 106. An ACoutlet 108 is placedin parallel across the external AC power source but protected by theswitch and ,fuse. An electromagnet 110 in series with a speed controldevice 112 forms a parallel branch across the'protected outlet 108. Avacuum-pressure pump 116 in series 'with an ON--OFF switch 118 forms afurther parallel branch across the protected outlet 108. e

A-voltage control circuit 120 which varies the magnitude of AC sourcevoltage in" series with a step-down transformer 122 forms the finalparallel branch. The output from the transformer 122 is rectified in afull wave rectifier 124 whose output is filtered by DC filter 126 toproduce the DC output 128. A DC line fuse 130 is serially inserted inthe DC lineand an ammeter and voltmeter 132 are included to measure theDC output. a

' Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a preferred embodiment of thecircuitry capable of performing part of the functions indicated in FIG.4. The source of voltage passes through the voltage control circuit 142to the primary 144 of a step-down transformer 148. The secondary 146connects to a full wave rectifier comprising a diode bridge arrangementof substantially identical diodes 150, 152, 154, 156, each included in arespective arm of the bridge. The secondary winding is connected acrossone set of diagonals andthe output is taken across the opposite set ofdiagonals. A filteriis c onnected across the output terminals comprisinga capacitor 158 in parallel with a resistor 160. Fuse 162 is placed inseries with one output line. A' voltmeter 164 is located in parallelacross the output lines and an ammeter 166 is located in series with oneline. The final DC output is taken at 168 and is available for an anodelead connection 170 from the positive terminal and a cathode leadconnection 172-from the negative terminal.

The portable plating laboratory heretofore described can be used forquick in-plant analysis of plating solutions, field testing for servicegroups andfor prototype plating. The attach case'can be made "offiberglass and is about twenty'inches in length, fifteen inches in widthand about six inches in' depth. The weight of the kit can be made lessthan twenty-five poundsf i i There has been disclosed heretofore thebest .embodiment of the invention presentlycontempalted. However, it isto be understood that various changes and modifications may be made bythose skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A portable kit for use in electroplating, housed in a carrying caseand comprising, in combination:

(a) line means adapted to connect to a source of AC power;

(b) electromagnetic means connected to said line means;

(0) pump means connected to said line means for providing a vacuum and apressure;

(d) rectifier means coupled to said line means for converting the ACpower to a controllable DC power; and

(e) terminals connected to the output of said DC power for providingconnection to an anode and a cathode.

2. A portable kit as in claim 1 wherein the carrying case includes anupper and lower section connected together, said lower section includinga detachable cover enclosing a storage compartment, said electromagneticmeans being fixed within said storage compartment and said upper sectionincluding a control panel enclosing said pump means, said rectifiermeans and at least a portion of said line means, said terminals beingavailable at the front of said control panel for connection to the anodeand cathode.

3. A portable kit as in claim 2 and further comprising:

(a) voltage control means connected to said line means for varying theAC power supplied to the rectifier means; and

(b) step-down transformer means having a primary winding connected inseries with said voltage control means and a secondary winding connectedto said rectifier means, wherein said voltage control means andtransformer means are included within the control panel enclosure.

4. A portable kit as in claim 2 and further comprising:

(a) filter means connected to the output of said rectifier means, andincluded within the control panel enclosure;

(b) an ammeter serially connected with one of the terminals of the DCoutput;

(c) a voltmeter connected in parallel across the DC 45 output; and

(d) fuse means connected in series with said ammeter wherein saidammeter, voltmeter and fuse means being accessible at the front of saidcontrol panel.

5. A portable kit as in claim 2 and further comprising:

(a) fuse means connected in series with said line means;

(b) first switch means connected in series with said fuse means;

(c) second switch means connected in series with said pump means; and

(d) speed control means connected in series with said electromagneticmeans, wherein said fuse means, first and second switch means and speedcontrol means being included within the control panel and accessible tothe front of said panel.

6. A portable kit as in claim 2 and further comprising electrical outletmeans in parallel with said line means and accessible to the front ofsaid control panel.

7. A portable kit as in claim 2 and further comprising hook meansattached to the interior of said carrying case for holding accessorydevices in fixed position.

8. A portable kit as in claim 2 and wherein said pump means includes afirst outlet providing a vacuum and a second outlet providing apressure, said first and second outlets available to the front of saidcontrol panel.

9. A portable kit as in claim 1 wherein said rectifier means includes adiode bridge circuit arrangement.

10. A portable kit as in claim 2 further including in combination atiming device having a control knob, said timing device being includedwithin said control panel enclosure and said control knob beingavailable at the front of said control panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,449,004 3/1923 Howe et al.204-194 2,046,440 7/ 1936 Adey 20415 2,128,331 8/1938 Schlotter n 2041942,491,910 12/1949 Schinske 204224 R 3,207,685 9/1965 Pavlic 204-224 RTHOMAS 'I'UFARIELLO, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 204-224

